LA National Guard and Marines Deploy to Los Angeles for Immigration Protests

The U.S. military is set to engage in a significant operation, deploying nearly 5,000 National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. This move, in response to immigration protests, is projected to cost about $134 million and is planned to last for two months, as detailed in a recent Pentagon briefing. Bryn MacDonnell, the acting comptroller for the Pentagon, explained to lawmakers during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense meeting that the substantial funding will be sourced from the Defense Department's operations and maintenance budget. This budget will cover various costs including travel, accommodation, and meals for the deployed personnel. In the preceding days, authorization was granted for 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to be stationed in Los Angeles. Their primary objective is to safeguard federal immigration officials and properties, a reaction to the recent protests challenging the Trump administration's deportation policies. Many Democrats, particularly those representing California, have criticized this deployment as an unnecessary escalation and have initiated legal action for the withdrawal of these troops. During a contentious House hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced inquiries regarding the necessity of deploying active-duty forces. Rep. Pete Aguilar, representing California, questioned the deployment's legality, suggesting it edged too close to domestic law enforcement activities, a practice generally prohibited unless under the Insurrection Act. According to Hegseth, "President [Donald] Trump believes in law and order, so he has every authority," defending the administration's actions. While the legality of the deployments was affirmed by legal experts and former defense officials, concerns were raised about the implications, suggesting the military might be edging into areas traditionally separate from their usual duties. More details can be found in an article by Military Times.